I've got the greatest guitar of them all!

[reitze]

More Amp-Fitting for Alvi-Seven

reitze! You're doing it. I've been pushing you to redefine your public persona,
but you put it all into your guitar, looking more original Terminator blast-face with it.
Wow! I love how you conformed the circuit board like a pickguard. That's a first.
Don't let Godin see that.

You've inspired me, and seeing your Ali-seven gave me some thoughts.
If I was using the name Ali with a number like you, I'd have to call it Ali-in-three.
Most of his first bouts didn't last three rounds, and he was told to stretch the fights out for television.
That's why he was walking around with his windmill punch around the perimeter of the ring,
sayin' I'm gonna get you.

reitze, can you please take a request from me and re-name, or compose a new song, for a name I made up,
Hardno Techno.
That could be a shout-out said different ways.

Seeing that circuit board like a pick-guard....
I'm going to have a hard time typing serious tonight for my domain.

Hi John, I was just thinking of a name for it... something with Alverez and #7.

The amp is cut in from the front under the pic-guard. I still might have to cut a hole in the back for the heat-sink on the amp. the board in the guitar in this pic is a dead one with the heat-sink and a capacitor removed. So either I remount those parts or... If I start wanting to play it I could just cut and hack. Still I'm liking the way it's looking like it will turn out. The main thing going on making this a better fit than the previous ones is the roland MC size speaker with the Line 6 amp. I still have to figure out what to do with the battery pack too. I could actually use more than 1 with less batteries per holder and cut them in better... but then a guitar-back hmmmm... this takes a long time without a plan.

 

[reitze]

Figuring out where to put the batteries

One option is on the bottom under the amp. It could even make it stand-on it's side and build into a speaker cavity. I could also just leave the speaker back open. The other option is behind the bridge (useless body-area there). edit: that's to the right of the speaker in the pics.

 

[reitze]

Leg Amputations

Nobody seemed to notice

In this pic you can see that I've shortened the legs on my guitar stands. They were so long before that I couldn't sit my guitar next to my chair, or behind the one in the garage, or outside on the table, or 2 beside eachother... like this.

Note the black one's legs are especially short (nice). I tried some slide-picking with the pieces but they're a little small for my fingers.

 

[Peeker]

this is stellar...

 

[reitze]

Final Fits

The battery holder and the jack-board are now cut in. Intention is to stick-on the tone knobs next to the effects.

 

[John Watt]

This thread is going to get me in trouble.
It's going to make me get a guitar and do things to it so I can have some new photos for here.
Some awe-full left-handed things, truly lefty things... inspired by reitze's new work.
I'm thinking of making a pick-guard like a sound pad, maybe two or three part drum sounds,
so some percussion sounds can be made while picking.
I've been beating away on the tops of guitar while I'm playing since I started,
so I wouldn't have to develop the technique, just get the effect there.
Maybe someone could build a "steel drum" pickguard for different notes.
Just one effect that adds a whoosh to the note you hit would be great.
Yeah, imagine a switch that lets you change that effect,
so you can have deep echo on and use that for notes or sections.

reize! Stop this! I have to finish my semi-solid-body, as un-self-reliant as it is.

 

[Tiltsta]

You guys should google search "Kaoss Pad Guitar". You would love it, as it is along the lines of what John is describing in terms of effects controllers.

 

[reitze]

Better is the enemy of good enough...

 

[reitze]

You guys should google search "Kaoss Pad Guitar". You would love it, as it is along the lines of what John is describing in terms of effects controllers.

Will do when back at PC.
Meanwhile the tap button of this amp will be just under the bridge pickup. That's nice for setting delay and tremolo effect timing.

 

[reitze]

Face work

 

[Peeker]

that's a thing of beauty.

 

[reitze]

Failure Suck$

that's a thing of beauty.

Thanks Peeker. Nice to hear in contrast with my major let-down-failure.

I just put the real amp in and powered it up and got nothing. I fucked up the amp. That's a $100+ mistake. Really pissed at myself at the moment. The wires between boards just weren't long enough and by the time they got to the right location I had pulled a couple loose ... been through the wiring now and it's not that... shorted something somewhere.

Feel like quitting - everyone can call me an idiot now - i sure feel like one. :ewh:

So bottom line is I need another new amp to fix it, and more time. It's not getting done this weekend and that sucks cause I really wanted it now.

 

[Tiltsta]

You should try to put one of those fender 600 champ tube amps in the next project.

 

[reitze]

You should try to put one of those fender 600 champ tube amps in the next project.

lol I don't think that will fit. I did buy a Vox AC4TV8 (similar 4W tube amp, 8"). I might someday make it into guitar-case with a battery and inverter.

 

[reitze]

Anoter Amp and Its Up!

So I went and bought another amp. I believe I'll be able to salvage the other one since I used it to isolate the bad part on the other one (it's on the Mic / I/O board). Anyway,... here it is up and playable:

Now as far as the Best Guitar goes it's still Power Guitar #4. This one has a smaller speaker and there's also a noice issue where the circuit board is broadcasting a little bit into the pickups, especially the single coils. I'm gonna try some copper tape isolation. If that doesn't get it it's still better than no-electric mobility. It's sort of like having a wire in a room with florescent lights . I guess I'm gonna call it a day at this point since its at least playable.

 

[reitze]

The Best

 

[reitze]

AliSeven's first Ride En Play



it needs a rebuild with copper tape to eliminate the noise but compared to a road it's trivial... I'm just one of those people who can't sand even a little noise like from a cord... but I've seen much worse resolved - this is a good start.

 

[reitze]

AliSeven is my new favorite. I'm now convinced its the best ever. Ultimate in TONE!

So I went and bought another amp. I believe I'll be able to salvage the other one since I used it to isolate the bad part on the other one (it's on the Mic / I/O board). Anyway,... here it is up and playable:
{IMG]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk213/reitze/IMG_1388c.jpg[/IMG]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk213/reitze/IMG_1381c.jpg[/IMG}
Now as far as the Best Guitar goes it's still Power Guitar #4. This one has a smaller speaker and there's also a noice issue where the circuit board is broadcasting a little bit into the pickups, especially the single coils. I'm gonna try some copper tape isolation. If that doesn't get it it's still better than no-electric mobility. It's sort of like having a wire in a room with florescent lights :mad:. I guess I'm gonna call it a day at this point since its at least playable.[/QUOTE]
Well now I've changed my mind again. [U]This really is the best guitar ever yet built. [/U] The noise issue is there but it's about the same as an average cord - not really an issue unless I'm being anal wanting extreme-clean. For this guitar most often I don't. I've got my eye on another acoustic small body for powering up (not Stratacoustic but similar class). Anyway, for now till anyone else makes anything better,[B][U] this is now the best ever yet built[/U][/B] and sill be further improved gradually.
Oh and the [B][U]current weight is 10.10 lbs[/U][/B].
[IMG]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk213/reitze/06759fcd.jpg

edits
+1: The incredible tone is the smaller speaker better mounted into the body of the guitar seems to set the sustain going even better than the others, together with the body not being carved up.
+2: Its also increadible wired from the headphone jack to the Vox AC4TV. I get the pre-amp tone seeting in the guitar - full efects - into that nice tube amp. Can change everything without reaching from my recliner. I get to play myself to sleep. Kinda funny thinking of some kids I've had to carry to bed.

 

[John Watt]

It's still slightly galling for me to see your self-amplified guitars being called the greatest guitar.
I should be a challenger, but I was at City Hall today registering to be a mayoral candidate,
and we'll see if I survive to finish my guitar. Playing it plugged in is when you find the difference.

I can see a piece of circuit board sticking out the back of your guitar,
and I'm wondering, is this in preparation for another modification,
a credit card slot? Are you thinking of chaining a guitar to a pole in a mall,
and charge for raunching out for a little while?

It's nice to have real friends.
Ronnie Ristine, "Raunchin' Ronnie", is one of the best known guitarists still playing around here.
He walked around for an afternoon last week with one of his favorite guitars,
saying "Have you seen John Watt. I want him to fix my guitar" I still hear good things about that.
I've never been in his band or got invited to his house, but he pumped me up during a bad time.
Everyone was saying "John, Ronnie's looking for you. He wants you to fix his guitar".
It might have been his '58 ES 320 or 310, I'm not sure and no-one got to hold it or play it.
Ronnie rides his bicycle around town with a guitar, but keeps it in the case. Wimp!

 

[reitze]

It's still slightly galling for me to see your self-amplified guitars being called the greatest guitar.
I should be a challenger, but I was at City Hall today registering to be a mayoral candidate,
and we'll see if I survive to finish my guitar. Playing it plugged in is when you find the difference.

I can see a piece of circuit board sticking out the back of your guitar,
and I'm wondering, is this in preparation for another modification,
a credit card slot? Are you thinking of chaining a guitar to a pole in a mall,
and charge for raunching out for a little while?

It's nice to have real friends.
Ronnie Ristine, "Raunchin' Ronnie", is one of the best known guitarists still playing around here.
He walked around for an afternoon last week with one of his favorite guitars,
saying "Have you seen John Watt. I want him to fix my guitar" I still hear good things about that.
I've never been in his band or got invited to his house, but he pumped me up during a bad time.
Everyone was saying "John, Ronnie's looking for you. He wants you to fix his guitar".
It might have been his '58 ES 320 or 310, I'm not sure and no-one got to hold it or play it.
Ronnie rides his bicycle around town with a guitar, but keeps it in the case. Wimp!

Hi John, yes friends are good.

My impression is you're among the best at the fine wood working. My guitars only succeed at the claim of best via their technology advantages. I believe you are 1 such person who could do better than I've so-far done... but it's not simple, not easy, not cheep, not without failures, and most don't seem to get it as to why...

So that leaves us discussing the best guitars ever built and seemingly not much more interest. I was encouraged the other day though when I went to the guitar store and the manager who I only saw once a few months ago remembered my guitar and wants me to bring it in and let him try it again. And my family and friends are encouraging to the point where they express dissmay over how such a simple thing could be unavailable - like yea right if it's so simple why can't we buy them...hmmm.

So it's not like some great guitarist seeking me out, at least not yet. Of coarse enjoying such a wonderful instrument that produces a beautiful sound as you guitars also do its a rather amazing experience. I don't have to be a great guitarist to build and enjoy them. But the amount of enjoyment I get from them it amazes me there's not a bunch of pro-guitarists insisting on similar products for home and travel.